China diving queen Quan Hongchan delights fans with new hairdo, shows she has ‘really grown up’

Mainland Chinese internet users were left in awe by the country’s Olympic champion, Quan Hongchan – not for her diving techniques this time, but for her new image, which prompted many to marvel that Quan has “really grown up.”On January 12, Quan shared multiple images of herself picking strawberries and tomatoes at a farm in her hometown of Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, as reported by the news outlet Red Star News.Shortly after, the hashtags “Quan Hongchan sports long hair” and “Quan Hongchan has apparently become thinner” quickly became some of the most searched news items online.In her recent selfies, 18-year-old Quan flaunts longer, light blondish-brown hair, stylish sunglasses, and a casual outfit, adding playful animations typical for her age. Photo: WeiboIn those selfies, Quan, now 18, showcases longer hair dyed a light blondish brown, wearing sunglasses and dressed casually. She adds cute animations to her pictures, reminiscent of typical girls her age, according to the report.Her selfie post has garnered 150,000 likes on social media platforms in China.“Sister Quan has really grown up. I am happy to accompany you as you continue to mature,” commented one online observer.Another remarked: “It’s like ‘my daughter has just come of age.’ This girl is becoming more and more beautiful.”As one of China’s top athletes, Quan claimed gold in the 10-metre platform diving at the Tokyo Olympics at just 14 and successfully defended her title at the Paris Olympics in 2024. Photo: Xinhua/Luo Yuan